WASHINGTON (CNN) - Former Vice President Dick Cheney said the administration was not to blame for poor economic conditions in the country, telling CNN's John King congressional Democrats had prevented it from heading off the financial threat posed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and that September 11 had forced the United States into "wartime mode" and spending.

Asked by King about key measures of economic health that had declined during the Bush administration, Cheney replied that there were "all kinds of arguments to be made on that point, but there's something that's more important than the specific numbers you're talking about, and that had to be priority for our administration: eight months after we arrived, we had 9/11. We had 3,000 Americans killed one morning by Al Qaeda terrorists here in America.

"We immediately went into wartime mode, we ended up with two wars, in Afghanistan and Iraq, some of that still very active. We had major problems with respect to things like Katrina, for example. All of these things required us to spend money that we had not originally planned to spend, or weren't originally part of the budget," he said.

"Stuff happens. And the administration has to be able to respond to that, and we did."

soundoff(183 Responses)

Carol

No one cares what you think any more Dick. Those of us with a brain figured you out, got rid of you, and have moved on. You ought to STFU and be thankful that Obama's a tad busy right now cleaning up your godawful mess to put you on trial for being a war criminal.

March 15, 2009 12:43 pm at 12:43 pm |

Robert Nicholson

It is very telling that they would give this guy a voice right now. It tells me that the mainstream media doesn't support Obama's agenda and they use criminals like Cheney to undermine it.

March 15, 2009 12:48 pm at 12:48 pm |

Sarah

The first part of his statement is the truthtelling:

"We had 3,000 Americans killed one morning..."

March 15, 2009 12:50 pm at 12:50 pm |

Mark - Houston

I guess the bulk of the rational/informed people are at church this morning. I would be myself but am baby sitting, and this is what I found. What a terrible day it is to see so much hate on a Sunday morning.

March 15, 2009 12:51 pm at 12:51 pm |

tim

You are a traitor, Dick. No one cares what you think.

March 15, 2009 12:51 pm at 12:51 pm |

Elly

i often wonder how Cheney and Bush sleep at night ..they are sneaky and crooked!!!
Look at all the fallout from their illegal war in Iraq over oil and revenge for Bushs daddy and lying propaganda
Thousands of troops killed and maimed , Thousands of innocent Iraqis killed and displaced !!
tell me cheney how do you feel when you look at a veteran who is burned beyond recognition for your LIES and your worried about skooter Libby
Shows you how shallow this man really is
no wonder the economy is in the sewer from all the Trillions spent in Iraq and the money that cannot be accounted for by your contracting
company Haliburton!!
Bush and him should be charged with war crimes
I have no respect for either

March 15, 2009 12:51 pm at 12:51 pm |

All Republicans are window lickers

yeah baby and ib: please STFU and go lick your windows you are a disgrace to the American society. Once again the Retards are justifying spending money on something other than the American people.